Puzzle.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK H. LEHMAN, OF LEBANON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE ULLMANMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PUZZLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 4, 1907.

Application filed October 3, 1906. Serial No. 337,196.

To all 1072 0777, it lnay concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK H. LEHMAN, a c tizen of the United States,residing at the clty of Lebanon, in the county of Lebanon and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inPuzzles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to puzzles, and the object thereof is to provide adevice of this class which is simple in construction, inexpensive ofmanufacture, and the solution of which, while difficult, is entertainingand interesting, and may be accomplished with the exercise of ingenuityand manipulation; also to provide a device of this kind adapted for theinscription of messages thereon, and which may be conveniently foldedand clasped in such a manner as to hide the writing from general view,and in such condition forwarded through the mails in the form of apostal card. I attain these objects by the means illustrated in theaccompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a view of the back and outerside of the device, showing the same opened or flattened .out with allthe parts thereof lying in the same plane. Fig. 2 is an edge view orelevation of the device lying as in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a front Viewshowing the positions of the visible parts as they appear when thepuzzle is solved and Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the device partlyfolded and clasped.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A indicates an intermediate plate, to which are revolubly attached theauxiliary plates B C and D D D D, the dotted lines 3 4 5 6 indicatingthe axes or lines of attachment. Said auxiliary plates may beindependent of and separate from plate A, and secured thereto by pivots,hinges, or other suitable means. But I prefer to make the entire deviceintegral, and of flexible material such as leather or card board, and toform the axes by scoring or slightly weakening the material along thedotted lines mentioned. l/Vhile not confining myself to any particularor definite mode of forming either plate A or any of the auxiliaryplates, I preferably make plate A of the length, width, and thickness ofthe postal card in ordinary use for circulation in the mails, plate B ofsimilar width and thickness but some-what shorter length, plate C ofsimilar width and thickness and longer than plate B but shorter thanplate A, and plates D D D D of equal thickness and of length slightlyless than the width of plate A.

In auxiliary plates B O and D D D D I provide a plurality of openings orperforations indicated by O, and on the rear faces thereof or the faceswhich lie uppermost when said plates are folded in upon plate A, Iprovide a plurality of figures or pictorial representations indicated byS, arranging and locating certain of said perforations and figures insuch manner with reference to one an other, that when the said platesare folded in upon plate A and superimposed one upon another in apredetermined order, a certain fixed or given number of said figures arevisible, and that when said plates are superimposed in any other order aless number of said figures are visible. Although in the drawing theperforations or openings are shown as being circular in shape and thefigures as being representations of a star, I do not confine or limitmyself to these forms but may use any other forms, and may use any otherrepresentations or figures which may be deemed suitable or appropriatefor the purpose.

When the device is used as a postal card, I provide a clasp, by formingin plate O a slot or elongated perforation F, and on plate B, a lip E,adapted to enter said slot as shown in Fig. 4. WVith the use of these orother similar means which may be employed for the purpose, the card maybe securely closed and sent through the mails without any danger ofaccidental opening.

In Fig. 4 the auxiliary plates D and D are purposely left out from amongthe folded parts to show that the inner face of the card, or the faceopposite to that represented in Fig. 1, may without detraction from thegeneral usefulness of the device, be left perfectly blank, thusaffording space for the inscription of a message. When the card iscompletely folded and clasped as above described, it is obvious that amessage thus written on the inner face thereof, will be hidden fromgeneral view.

Having thus fully described. my invention, what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A puzzle comprizing an intermediate plate, auxiliary plates attachedthereto and adapted to be folded in and superimposed, one upon another,thereon, a plurality of perforations in said auxiliary plates and aplurality of figures or pictorial representations thereon, as and forthe purpose described.

2. A puzzle comprising an intermediate plate, auxiliary plates revolublyattached thereto and adapted to be folded in and superimposed, one uponanother, thereon, in a variety of Ways, a plurality of perforations insaid auxiliary plates and a plurality of figures or pictorialrepresentations on the outside faces thereof, as and for the purposedescribed.

8. A puzzle comprising an intermediate I plate, auxiliary platesattached thereto and adapted to be folded in-and superimposed, one uponanother,,thereon, a plurality of perforations in said auxiliary platesand a plurality of figures orpictorial representations on the facesthereof Which lie uppermost When said auxiliary plates are folded inupon said. intermediate plate, as and for the purpose described.

4. A puzzle comprising an intermediate plate, auxiliary plates attachedthereto and adapted to be folded in and superimposed,

' one upon another, in a variety of Ways thereon, a plurality ofperforations in said auxiliary plates and a plurality of figures orpictorial representations thereon, said perforations being so locatedand arranged With respect to said figures that when said auxiliaryplates are superimposed in a predetermined order a fixed or given numberof said figures appear and When said plates are superimposed in anyother order said fixed or given number of said figures do not appear.

5. A puzzle comprising an intermediate plate, a plurality of auxiliaryplates revolubly attached to the sides or edges thereof and adapted tobe turned or folded in and superimposed, one upon another, in a varietyof Ways, thereon, a plurality of perforations in said auxiliary platesand a plurality of figures or pictorial representations thereon, saidperforations being so located and arranged with respect to said figuresthat When-said auxiliary plates are folded in and superimposed one uponanother in a predetermined order, a certain given or fixed number ofsaid figures become visible, and When said. plates are superimposed inany other order, a less number of said figures become visible.

6. The herein described puzzle, Which comprises the intermediate plateA, auxiliary plates B C and D D D D revolubly secured to the sides oredges thereof, a plurality of openings or perforations in said auxiliary plates and a plurality of figures or pictorial representations onthe outside faces thereof, as and for the purpose described.

7. In a puzzle, the combination of the intermediate plate A, auxiliaryplates B C and D D D D attached thereto, a plurality of openings orperforations in said auxiliary plates and a plurality of figures orpictorial representations thereon, said perforations being so locatedWith reference to said figures that When said auxiliary plates arefolded in and superimposed one upon another in a predetermined order, acertain tions thereon, and lip E formed on plate B and a slot F for thereception of said lip formed in plateC, substantially as specified.

9. A puzzle adapted to be used as a postal card, comprising anintermediate plate, a plurality of auxiliary plates foldably attached tothe edges thereof, a plurality of openings or perforations in said.auxiliary plates and a plurality of figures or pictorial representationsthereon, and a blank space .on the inner face of said intermediate plateadapted for the inscription of a message thereon.

10. A puzzle adapted to be used as a postal card, comprising anintermediate plate, a plurality of auxiliary plates foldably attachedthereto and adapted to be turned in and superimposed one upon anotherthereon in a variety of Ways, a plurality of perforations in saidauxiliary plates and a plurality of figures or pictorial representationsthereon, a blank space on the inner face of said intermediate plateadapted for the inscrip tion of a message thereon and capable of beinghidden from general view by the superimposition of said auxiliary platesthereon, and a suitable clasp for holding said auxiliary plates infolded or closed positions.

11. In a puzzle adapted to be used as a postal card, the combination ofan intermediate .plate A having an inner blank face adapted for theinscription of a message, auxiliary plates D D D D foldably at tached tothe edges thereof, andauxiliary plates B C adapted to be folded in andsuperimposed upon said inner face of said intermediate plate A and heldin position by a clasp formed by a lip E 011 plate B and a slot orelongated perforation F in plate C.

In testimony Whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of twoWitnesses.

FRANK H. LEHMAN.

Witnesses:

HARVEY P. DAUGI-IERTY, RICHARD J. BOYER.

